FINGER FROST-BITTEN 201 



the north shore of Porcupine Point, where wind- 

 pressure, before the ice was very thick, had 

 broken through the weak areas and piled up 

 angular blocks on the resisting lake surface. 

 There, accordingly, progress for the sleds was for 

 some considerable distance awkward and slow, 

 and some time was lost. 



The day was bitterly cold, so cold that when 

 I took a photograph in an exposed position on the 

 lake, and removed my right-hand mitten to do 

 so, I had my finger frozen in but a brief time. 

 Application of snow rubbed on vigorously soon 

 restored circulation. 



Ten Caribou were sighted between our second 

 fire and night camp, and we gave chase to 

 secure dog-food. Both Indians (one of whom 

 used my rifle) brought down a buck apiece, and 

 at long range I, later, dropped a third from the 

 same herd. Each then hoisted a dead animal 

 on the top of the sled-loads, and roped them 

 securely ; and when this was done we resumed 

 our way until it was time to camp for the night. 

 At camp the Caribou were off-loaded and cut up, 

 and the dogs well fed, while the remainder, 

 excepting that which was required for our per- 

 sonal needs, was cached by the Indians for use on 

 their return journey. 



In camp we slept on spruce boughs on the snow, 

 snug in our Caribou-skin sleeping-bags before a 

 great log-fire, as was ordinary custom on the 

 winter trails. 



December 30. — Left our night camp about an 

 hour before daylight, and made good progress 

 throughout the day. There had been no snow- 



